Bobservations' Column
Pastor Bob Lawrenz
The Apostle Paul has taken us a long way in this Epistle. The outline for this Epistle is the same for all Paul’s letters, as presented in 2 Timothy 3:16. He Teaches the church and individuals the truth of God’s Word as doctrine. He reproves even as he encourages. He offers correction without condemnation, reminding them of what Jesus has done for us all. And as with this chapter, he offers instruction in righteousness. All this so that peace reigns in the hearts of His people, whether Jew or Gentile.
His Epistles Are filled with Doctrine and presented in a loving way, but he pulls no punches. From his Jewish background he was transformed into a leader among the Apostles, planting churches, and encouraging other churches that we planted by others.
Paul’s ministry is Spirit-led. Paul’s human spirit is now Spirit-led. His travels were Spirit-led, and his love for the Lord took over his whole life. This is his hope for every Christian, that we would immerse ourselves in Jesus’ teachings, immerse ourselves in His life, and share Him like He shared Himself with all mankind.
Paul followed Jesus all the way to his own execution. Teaching the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and offering the Salvation of the Lord too all. Eternal life became possible with Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, and He offers it to all who will simply believe on Him. That’s the first step in our new life. Jesus asks us to follow Him, and He gifts us with the faith to do just that: denying self, take up our cross, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)
This He has done because He loves each of us. And as we walk with Him, He leads us deeper and deeper into relationship with Himself, with the Father, as He imbues His Holy Spirit unto us. And as the Angel Gabriel spoke to a young virgin named Mary, we learn and experience the truth of the Angel’s words: “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
Today's Audio Message:
The Apostle Paul has taken us a long way in this Epistle. The outline for this Epistle is the same for all Paul’s letters, as presented in 2 Timothy 3:16. He Teaches the church and individuals the truth of God’s Word as doctrine. He reproves even as he encourages. He offers correction without condemnation, reminding them of what Jesus has done for us all. And as with this chapter, he offers instruction in righteousness. All this so that peace reigns in the hearts of His people, whether Jew or Gentile.
His Epistles Are filled with Doctrine and presented in a loving way, but he pulls no punches. From his Jewish background he was transformed into a leader among the Apostles, planting churches, and encouraging other churches that we planted by others.
Paul’s ministry is Spirit-led. Paul’s human spirit is now Spirit-led. His travels were Spirit-led, and his love for the Lord took over his whole life. This is his hope for every Christian, that we would immerse ourselves in Jesus’ teachings, immerse ourselves in His life, and share Him like He shared Himself with all mankind.
Paul followed Jesus all the way to his own execution. Teaching the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and offering the Salvation of the Lord too all. Eternal life became possible with Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, and He offers it to all who will simply believe on Him. That’s the first step in our new life. Jesus asks us to follow Him, and He gifts us with the faith to do just that: denying self, take up our cross, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)
This He has done because He loves each of us. And as we walk with Him, He leads us deeper and deeper into relationship with Himself, with the Father, as He imbues His Holy Spirit unto us. And as the Angel Gabriel spoke to a young virgin named Mary, we learn and experience the truth of the Angel’s words: “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” - 1 Cor. 15:53
Today's Audio Message:
Ephesians 4:17-32 - "New Man; New Walk"
Summary/Notes:
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the action by which God takes up permanent residence in the body of a believer in Jesus Christ.Jesus revealed to His disciples the new role the Holy Spirit. He is the Comforter. He is the Spirit of Truth. He would testify of Jesus. He will teach us and guide us into all truth. The role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives is in John 14:17, “He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
The scripture tells us in John 14:16; 15:26; 16:13, that the believer in Jesus Christ has the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, living in him. As the Holy Spirit lives in the believer, He brings about some life-changing results: New Life; New Birth, New Man; New Walk.
The indwelling Holy Spirit empowers the yielded believer to live for Christ to do His will (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit leads the believer in paths of righteousness (Romans 8:14). As Pastor Bob so aptly put it, “The Holy Spirit brings us into full power, the fullness of God’s power - the power behind our growing faith." The power of the Holy Spirit in our lives enables us to walk in newness of life, obedient to the Word of God, set apart for His plan and purpose.
As we finish the Ephesians chapter 4, Paul urged the Ephesian church and, by extension, believers today—to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. As believers, we are followers of Christ. We have been given new life, and with that new life we have new duties and a new life path to follow. Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us for every step of that worthy walk as we submit to His leading.
Paul having described the corruption of the mind, heart, and will of the “old man," then begins to unpack what it means to walk as a “new man” (Ephesians 4:22). In detailing what it means to “no longer walk as other Gentiles walk” (Ephesians 4:17), Paul reminds the church that they had previously “learned . . . heard . . . and been taught by . . . Jesus." With a new mind, heart, and will, Christians begin to resemble Jesus. Practically speaking, the transition from the old man to a new man is oftentimes slow; yet it must occur if salvation is authentic (Luke 6:43–45).
While the exact phrase “new man” or “new self” only occurs in the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the concept occurs with regularity in Scripture, especially in the letters of Paul. Throughout scripture we learn that in Christ, believers have: a new mind (1 Corinthians 2:16; Romans 12:2), new knowledge (Colossians 3:10), a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek. 26:36), a new will (Philippians 2:12–13), new passions and desires (Galatians 5:24), a new conscience (Hebrews 9:14), and are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is all the result of being in a new covenant with God (Hebrews 8:6). Note the scope of the transformation of the old man into a new man. The new man is completely and thoroughly renewed.
In summary, Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 4:31–32 is to not sin, but to manifest the opposite behaviors—namely, showing kindness, being tenderhearted, and exhibiting forgiveness. The main danger in not “putting on the new man” (Ephesians 4:24) is that as we sin against and stray from God, we “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30), whose role it is to comfort and to guide believers in Christ-likeness.
